Alaska Author Night – Jamie Smith

Jamie Smith says that his long standing comic strip, “Nuggets,” which has run in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner since 1988, has made for deep connections across the state of Alaska.

“I’m grateful how much making art habitually becomes an everyday activity like eating, drinking, breathing, sleeping, exercise, etcetera, so there’s no waiting for any muse or inspiration,” Smith said. “Being a full-time art teacher definitely underscores this attitude: it’s called art ‘work’ for a reason.”

Smith is a cartoonist, painter and printmaker, and shares “Nuggets” weekly on his Instagram. In addition to his work as an illustrator, Smith is a faculty member of the University of Alaska’s Fine Art department, as well as a freelance designer, putting his spin on local business logos, posters and t-shirts.